TNI Bureau: Following the rumours fuelled panic amongst Northeast people, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reassured people saying that the Parliament is with them and they should feel secure in the country.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Dr Singh said, “We have to create an atmosphere to bring rumour mongering to an end. If anyone spreads rumours, they should be brought to book, I am in touch with the state leaders personally on that. Our children from the Northeast should feel secure; this country belongs to them as to any one of us”.
In Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition Sabha Sushma Swaraj appealed for political unity on the issue of the mass exodus of the Northeast people. She said that the issue raises many concerns and it is not a positive signal that north-east people are fleeing various cities including Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad fearing attacks. The government should take the matter seriously and this is the time the politicians should rise above the politics and take steps to ensure confidence amongst the north-east people.
When the session begins in the morning, the leaders from Samajwadi Party, CPM, BJP and JD(U) had given a notice for an adjournment motion for the suspension of question hour over the mass exodus. However, the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar rejected the adjournment motion saying they can go ahead for a brief discussion on the issue.
Meanwhile, the north-east people continue to flee the cities following the rumours spread scare among them. The students were seen waiting for the train at the various stations. The situation in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune remained tense. The government has been appealing to them that they are secure in the cities, but neither they are listening to the police nor the government.
Yesterday, three trains left from Bangalore for, packed with students, daily wagers, professionals from northeast. The scene suggested that the rumours have created panic and they are leaving their workplaces fearing attacks.